FR2867700A1 - DISTRIBUTOR FOR TWO COMPONENTS - Google Patents

Abstract

A method and apparatus for extruding the first fluid capable of foaming through a porous member to produce a first foamy extrudate while simultaneously dispensing a second liquid material preferably containing particulate matter adjacent to the first extrudate.

Description

DISTRIBUTOR FOR TWO COMPONENTS

  The present invention relates to dispensers for producing and dispensing a product jet comprising two components, one of which preferably comprises either particulate matter or a high viscosity fluid.

  Fluids such as cleaning fluids and hand cleaners are known which include particulate solids. These fluids include fluids such as grain-filled or granular soaps or hand lotions. Since the particulate matter may be made of larger or heavier particles, then the grain-filled fluids may suffer from the disadvantage that the particles settle, resulting in inconsistencies in the composition and a reduced shelf life. Deposition may be reduced to some extent by including a gelling agent, however, these gelling agents are frequently disadvantageous in that they typically increase the viscosity of the fluid.

  The particulate solids may include grains and pumice. The grain is any granular material, preferably sharpened, of relatively thin size and may be used as an abrasive. Pumice is a volcanic glass that is filled with cavities and very light weight and can be supplied with particles of different sizes to be used as an abrasive and absorber in detergents.

  Other particulate solids include synthetic resin scouring particles such as those disclosed in US Patent 3,645,904, cellulose abrasives such as wood flour, sponge flour, cork flour and sawdust. as described in US Pat. No. 4,508,634, and finely divided silica such as the finely blown silica described in US Patent 4,673,526.

  Grain-filled fluids are typically provided with the grains incorporated into the ready-to-use fluid. Known dispensers do not plan to dispense the grains or other particulate material independently of a fluid or to combine the grains and the fluid after dispensing. Known dispensers are therefore not useful for dispensing quantities of particulate material and fluids which should preferably be kept separately prior to use.

  Known foam-producing dispensers are passed through a mixture of air and liquid through a foam producing device which is typically a porous member having small openings. Passing the mixture of air and liquid through the openings or pores aids in the production of foam by subjecting the mixture to turbulence conditions. The porous foam-producing element may be, for example, a porous plastic or ceramic material or a grid or screen made by interweaving metal or plastic wires or a fabric material.

  Many fluids to be dispensed include particulate material which, if it passes through the known foam producing devices, clogs the openings or pores of these devices, rendering the devices inoperative. Similarly, high viscosity fluids are not suitable for flowing through the small openings or pores of foam producing devices because the pressure required for proper circulation is not in normal operating conditions.

  Known dispensers do not permit the dispensing of fluids incorporating particulate material or high viscosity fluids in a manner that produces a foam product.

  Known devices for producing foam include US Pat. No. 6,409,050 issued to Ophardt et al., Published June 25, 2002, US Patent 5,445,288 to Banks, published Aug. 29, 1995, and US Pat. 6,082,586 to Banks, published July 4, 2000.

  Known devices do not provide simple constructions for pump assemblies that provide for the distribution of two components that must be kept separate before being dispensed.

  To overcome at least in part these disadvantages of previously known devices, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for extruding a first fluid to produce a first extrudate while simultaneously dispensing a second liquid material preferably comprising a particulate material. Preferably, the first fluid is foamable and is extruded through a porous member to produce the first extrudate as a foam. The second liquid material may be a fluid or a particulate liquid.

  The present invention, in one aspect, provides a foam dispensing method which involves providing a first reservoir with a first foamable fluid and a second reservoir of a second liquid material, preferably a dry particulate material or a particulate matter in a fluid. The method involves passing the first fluid together with air through a porous member to produce and extrude an intermediate foam containing product to an outlet port. The method also involves simultaneously dispensing the second liquid material to the exit port without passing the second liquid material through the porous member, thereby producing a final product comprising the foam-containing intermediate and the second liquid material. Preferably, the second liquid material is selected from a fluid comprising a solid particulate material that is unable to pass through the porous member, a fluid having a viscosity sufficiently high not to pass through the porous member, and a material particulate dry liquid.

  If the second liquid material is a fluid, then preferably, the foam-containing intermediate and the second fluid are coextruded in an outlet passage in which they are brought into contact with each other, preferably to merge into the output passage. In addition, after coextrusion of the foam-containing intermediate product and the second fluid, the foam-containing intermediate and the second fluid can be mixed in the outlet passage.

  The foam-containing intermediate and the second fluid are preferably extruded coextruded in a parallel direction, one of the jets being annular around the other jet. Preferably, the intermediate product containing the foam is extruded annularly around the other jet comprising the second fluid.

  Preferably, extruding both the first fluid alone or with air through a porous member, and dispensing and / or extruding the second liquid material is effected by moving a single piston member. in an element forming a piston chamber. The single piston member and the piston chamber member preferably define therebetween a first fluid chamber having an inlet port in communication with a first reservoir and an outlet port, and a second chamber for the material liquid having an inlet port in communication with a second tank. When the piston member is reciprocated in the piston chamber member, the first fluid is pulled into and forced out of the first fluid chamber and the second fluid material is dispensed from the second fluid chamber. chamber and both jets are provided together to a user. When the first fluid is to be made foamy, the single piston member and the piston chamber also define therebetween an air chamber having an air inlet port and an air outlet port. When the piston member is moved back and forth in the piston chamber member, the air is pulled into and forced out of the air chamber, the first fluid is pulled into and forced out of the first chamber. fluid chamber and the second liquid material is dispensed from the second chamber. The air and the first fluid are mixed and passed to a foam producing device to produce an intermediate foam product. The second liquid material is delivered with the intermediate foam product to a user.

  A wide variety of different combinations of known pumps can be adapted to produce a dispenser according to the present invention.

  For example, as a pump for dispensing and extruding a fluid that may or may not include particulate matter or high viscosity liquids, two or three pumps incorporating check valves that may or may not have different size cylinders may be used as a pump. described, for example, in US Pat. No. 5,282,522 issued to Ophardt, published Feb. 1, 1994. As to the nature of the pumps that can be adopted and used to mix air and foamable liquid to produce an intermediate product. Sparkling, pumps of the type described in US Pat. No. 6,409,050 issued June 25, 2002 to Ophardt et al., and US Patents 5,445,288 and 6,082,586 to Banks, may be adopted. In accordance with the preferred embodiments, the piston and the piston chamber complementary member as used in previously known foamy intermediate product devices are modified to provide an additional pump mechanism for dispensing simultaneously. a second liquid material simultaneously with the distribution of the foamy intermediate product.

  The preferred pumping mechanisms can provide, between a single piston and a single piston chamber element, a separate pumping chamber and / or a pumping capacity for each of a first fluid and a second liquid material and, optionally, air when the first fluid is able to foam. Preferably, each of the two or three of these chambers are arranged coaxially with the piston and the piston chamber. In the manner of previously known dispensing devices, the piston may be reciprocated with respect to the piston chamber member for pumping or dispensing from each chamber. Reciprocating the piston can be accomplished by means of a manually activated lever in the manner of known soap dispensers.

  Known soap dispensers include disposable tanks carrying a disposable pump which are adapted for placement and replacement within a permanent housing of the dispenser. According to the present invention, a new disposable reservoir assembly comprising a disposable pump may be provided for placement in existing known dispensers, however the new reservoir incorporates two reservoir chambers, one for a first liquid which may be able to foam and the second for a second liquid material, for example comprising a particulate material.

  Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the present Figure 3 is an extruded product view of the sectional figure 3-3 '; FIG. 4 is the same with liquid extrudates; FIG. 5 is a schematic of dispensing tanks according to the present invention, in which a reservoir is internal to the second reservoir; Figure 6 is a view of a different tank arrangement in which the two tanks are stacked one on the other; Figure 7 is a schematic pictorial view of an alternative arrangement of the tanks in which the tanks are side by side; Figure 8 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a tank formed from a flexible lamination in which the same sheet forming an outer wall of an inner tank forms an inner wall of an outer tank; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in an extended position; invention; in cross section of the 1 along the line of sight that Figure 3 but different granular; pictorial representation for use with Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of the check valve assembly of Fig. 9 but in a retracted position; Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in a retracted position; Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view along section line A-A 'of Fig. 11 but merely showing the piston chamber member; Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention in an extended position; and Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Fig. 13 but in a retracted position.

  Reference is made to Figure 1 which illustrates a first preferred embodiment according to the present invention.

  A pump mechanism generally indicated at 10 is fixed in the opening 12 of a first reservoir 14 only schematically. The pump mechanism 10 includes a piston chamber member 16 in which a piston 18 is slidable coaxially.

  Three chambers are formed between the piston chamber member 16 and the piston 18. These three chambers comprise an air chamber 20, a foamy liquid chamber 30 and a granular liquid chamber 40. Each of these three chambers has a plurality of chambers. inlet check valve and a checkout outlet valve.

  The air chamber 20 has a retaining inlet valve 21 with a flexible annular flange which is radially outwardly biased and deflected radially inwardly to allow air to enter the chamber 20. The valve retaining outlet 22 has a similar flexible annular flange biased radially inward and deflected radially outwardly to allow air to exit the air chamber 20. The air inlet valve 21 and the air outlet valve 22 are carried on the piston 18.

  The foaming liquid chamber 30 is in hydraulic communication with the interior of the tank 14 via an inlet port 33. A foamy liquid inlet retaining valve 31 has a flexible annular flange which is radially outwardly biased and radially inwardly deflected to allow the foam fluid 35 from the tank 14 to enter the sparkling liquid chamber 30. A sparkling liquid outlet retaining valve 32 has a flexible annular flange which is radially inwardly polarized and deflected radially outwardly to allow the foamy liquid to exit the foaming liquid chamber 30. The foaming liquid inlet valve 31 is carried on the piston chamber member 16. The liquid outlet valve Sparkling 32 is carried on the piston 18.

  The piston chamber member 16 is connected at its upper end to a second reservoir 44 shown only schematically as carrying the granular liquid 45. The second reservoir 44 is preferably flexible and is formed for example into a bag. with a mouthpiece adapted to be attached to the piston chamber member 16.

  The granular liquid chamber 40 has inlet ports 43 therein that allow the granular fluid 45 from the interior of the second reservoir 44 to enter via the inlet ports 43 into the granular liquid chamber 40 through a granular liquid inlet retaining valve 41 which has a flexible annular flange secured to the piston chamber member 16 which is radially outwardly biased and deflected radially inwardly to allow the granular liquid 45 to flow into the granular liquid chamber 40.

  The piston 18 carries a granular liquid outlet retaining valve 42 which has a flexible annular flange which is radially outwardly biased and deflected radially inward to allow the granular liquid to exit the granular liquid chamber 40.

  The piston 18 has a central hollow grain distribution tube 50 with a coaxially disposed grain distribution passage 46 extending from a closed inner end 52 proximate the granular liquid outlet valve 42 to an open granular liquid exit port 53. A sealing flange 54 is carried on the grain distribution tube 50 away from the granular liquid outlet valve 42, which sealing flange 54 prevents the fluid from flowing axially. after him in all directions. A radially extending opening 56 extends from an annular space 49 between the granular liquid retention valve 42 and the sealing flange 54 to the grain distribution passage 46.

  The reciprocating movement of the piston 18 in the mechanism forming a piston chamber causes the granular liquid 45 to be successively pulled from the second reservoir 44 into the granular liquid chamber 40 and thus to be dispensed or extruded beyond the granular liquid outlet retaining valve 42 through the radially extending aperture 56 in the seed distribution passage 46 and then exiting out of the granular liquid outlet port 53. Blades 57 are preferably provided on the grain distribution tube 50 to help locate the piston 18 coaxially in an inner cylindrical side wall 58 of the piston chamber member 16 which forms the granular liquid chamber 40.

  With reference to the foamy liquid chamber 30, with the piston 18 reciprocating inwardly and outwardly relative to the piston chamber member 16, the sparkling liquid is drawn. in the foam liquid chamber 30 via inlet openings 33 beyond the foam liquid inlet valve 31 and is dispensed or extruded past the foam liquid outlet valve 32 to be extruded through a Sparkling liquid dispensing passage 36 to a location where the sparkling liquid dispensing passage 36 joins an air distribution passage 26.

  With reference to the inner tube, with the piston 18 moving back and forth inwardly and outwardly relative to the piston chamber member 16, the air is drawn into the air chamber. 20 beyond the air inlet valve 21 and is expelled from the air chamber 20 beyond the air outlet valve 22 via the air distribution passage 26 which merges with the air passage. liquid distribution 36 at an annular mixing chamber 60 disposed adjacent an annular porous member 59 carried by the piston 18 around the seed distribution tube 50. The expelled air and the extruded foam liquid from the mixing chamber 60 are forced through the porous member 59 to be extruded through the porous member 59, producing a foamed intermediate product schematically indicated at 61, including air, foamy liquid and foam formed In this one.

  Simultaneously with the extrusion of the foamy intermediate 61 through the exit side of the annular porous member 59, the granular liquid 45 is extruded from the grain distribution passage 46 out of the granular liquid outlet 53. The granular liquid 45, when it leaves the granular liquid outlet 53, is a cylindrical extrudate 48 shown schematically with the frothy intermediate 61 as an annular extrudate around it as best seen in FIG. 3. The piston 18 has an outlet tube 62 which extends axially from the porous member 59 and the seed distribution tube 50 and produces an axial length exit passage which may assist in facilitating challenge, stress, fusion, adhesion and or the mixture of the foamy intermediate 61 and the granular liquid extrudate 48 when coextruded through the outlet passage.

  The nature of the first reservoir 14 is not limited and may comprise an open container at the top or closed and if closed, it may be either a ventilated rigid container or a collapsible container. Similarly, the nature of the grain reservoir 44 is not limited and it may comprise an open container at the top or closed and if closed, it may be either a collapsible container or a ventilated rigid container which may be internal to the first tank.

  Reference is made to Figure 2 which shows a second embodiment of a dispenser according to the present invention. The same reference numerals are used in Figure 2 as in Figure 1 to indicate similar elements. As Figure 1, Figure 2 illustrates a combination of a first dispenser for dispensing air and a foamable liquid to produce a foamy intermediate and a second dispenser for simultaneously dispensing a second fluid. The first dispenser for producing a foamy intermediate product is of the type described in the present applicant's US Pat. No. 6,409,050 for mixing air with a foamy liquid from a reservoir 14 but modified to provide at the end. internal member of the piston chamber member 16 and the piston 18 an additional pump of the type described in the applicant's US Pat. No. 5,282,552 for dispensing a second liquid 45 from a second reservoir 44.

  In FIG. 2, with reference to the air chamber 20, with the reciprocating movement of the piston 18, the air is drawn into the air chamber 20 and is effectively led out through the dispensing passage. air 26 leading to a radially inwardly directed distribution port 54. The foamy liquid chamber 30 is a chamber in which the foamy liquid 35 can enter with the displacement of the piston 18 from the first reservoir 14 via a pressure port. the entry of foamy liquid 33 and be directed by an intermediate chamber 64 to the foamy liquid chamber 30 from which it is distributed in particular via a radial outlet orifice 66 to a foamy liquid distribution passage 36 which merges with the air from the air distribution passage 26 and its dispensing port 54 in an annular mixing chamber 60 above the annular porous screen 59 so that the air and the foamy liquid are forced together. emble through the porous screen 59 to produce a foamy intermediate product in the outlet tube 62.

  The pump assembly for extruding the granular liquid is substantially the same in FIG. 2 as that of FIG. 1. The granular liquid 45 enters the granular liquid chamber 40 via the inlet port 43 and is extruded with the moving the piston 18 to pass through the granular liquid distribution passage 46 of the granular liquid distribution central tube 50 and out of the outlet orifice 53.

  The foamy intermediate formed from air and foamy liquid is extruded through the screen 59 into the outlet tube 62 annularly around the granular liquid delivery tube 50 while the granular liquid 45 is simultaneously extruded. the granular liquid distribution tube 50 in the outlet tube 62.

  Both embodiments of Figures 1 and 2 illustrate the outlet ports for the foamy intermediate product and the granular liquid as being coaxial with the foamed extrudate intermediate annularly around the granular liquid extrudate 48. This is preferred but not necessary. Figures 1 and 2 also show the foamy intermediate product and the granular liquid as being extruded in the same axial direction. This is not necessary. The foamy intermediate product and the granular liquid extrudate could be extruded simply side by side or at different points of the outlet tube or for example, with the granular liquid extrudate annularly around the foamy intermediate product or simply to any place, preferably adjacent. As another preferred embodiment, the outlet port 53 of the granular liquid delivery tube 50 can divide the granular liquid extrudate into a plurality of jets, e.g., four radially and circumferentially spaced jets 48 therein of the outlet tube 65 as shown in FIG. 4 to increase contact and fusion between the foamy intermediate 61 and the extrudate 48.

  In the preferred embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, the pump mechanism is illustrated as having three separate chambers, each adapted to receive and expel three different fluids, i.e., air, foam liquid, and the like. granular liquid. Providing for forming the three chambers simply between two members, i.e., the piston chamber member 16 and the piston 18, is preferable but not necessary. Two separate pump assemblies may be provided to pump in parallel as with a single actuator, the outlet ports of each, i.e. the outlet of a foaming pump producing the foamy intermediate product and the outlet port of a separate granular liquid pump being coupled to coextrude the foamed intermediate and the granular liquid extrudate at the same location.

  Provide two tanks 14 and 44 so that one tank is inside the other is not necessary. The reservoirs may be separate individual reservoirs provided that the inlet ports for the respective liquids to be pumped, i.e. the sparkling liquid and the granular liquid, are in communication with the inlet ports to the chambers. foamy liquid and respective granular liquid. Reference is made to FIGS. 5 to 8 which schematically illustrate a certain number of different arrangements according to which two reservoirs 14 and 44 may be provided and adapted for example for use with one or the other of the pumps illustrated in FIGS. 2. In this regard, Figure 5 illustrates two separate tanks in the manner of those of Figure 2, the tank 44 being separated from and provided within the tank 14 with an opening 12 of the tank 14 engaged around the l outside of the air chamber shown in Figures 1 and 2 and an outlet 13 of the reservoir 44 engaged around the outer side wall 58 of the inner portion of the piston chamber member 16 shown in the figures 1 and 2.

  Reference is made to Figure 6 which illustrates the reservoir 14 as being annular with a central passageway therein. The reservoir 44 is stacked vertically above the reservoir 14. The reservoir 44 has its outlet orifice 13 adapted to engage around the cylindrical side wall 58 of the piston chamber element 16 of FIGS. 1 or 2. reservoir 14 has an annular outlet orifice 12 adapted to be fixed around the rim around the air chamber 20 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  With reference to FIG. 7, the tanks 14 and 44 are arranged side by side abutting each other although they are shown spaced apart for the simplicity of the illustration in FIG. a cylindrical coupling for attachment to the pump, selective openings being provided, for example, for suitably connecting the fluid in the reservoir 14 to the chamber 30 shown in Figures 1 and 2 and for suitably connecting the reservoir 44 to the chamber 40 shown in Figures 1 and 2.

  Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic cross-section of a compound bag formed of a flexible plastic lamination and adapted to have lower ends to form the outlet port 12 to be fixed around the air chamber 20, shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and internal sheets adapted to be fixed around the cylindrical portion 58, shown in Figures 1 and 2. The flexible sheet which forms the outer wall of the tank 44 forms an inner wall of the tank 14. The sheets may be closed at their upper end, for example along a common upper joint seam. Many other modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

  In the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, the liquid in the second reservoir 44 has been considered a granular liquid. It will be appreciated that according to the invention the granular liquid is not limited merely to liquids containing grains. Although the granular liquid should normally be interpreted to mean a liquid containing for example a solid particulate material, the granular liquid may be replaced by any desired liquid such as a high viscosity liquid that does not readily pass through the porous element or any other liquid that one does not wish to mix with the foamy liquid until the foam is formed.

  Reference is made to Figure 9 which shows a third embodiment of a pump mechanism 10 which is identical to that shown in Figure 1 except that the liquid pump for pumping the granular liquid 45 of the second reservoir 44 is replaced by a gravity flow distributor for dispensing a dry liquid particulate material indicated at 100 in Fig. 9 from the second reservoir 44. As seen in Fig. 9, the delivery tube 50 carries at its closed internal end 52, a shut-off member 102. The sealing flange 54 has been axially extended and includes an O-ring seal to seal the inner side wall 58 of the piston chamber member 16 which forms the chamber 40. Openings extending radially 56 extend through the delivery tube 50 to allow particulate matter 100 to flow from the chamber 40 into the flow passage distribution 46 and thus to the outlet port 53.

  The delivery tube 50 carries an annular valve seat extending radially inwardly 104 near its inlet port 43 which cooperates with the closure member 102 to allow the particulate material 100 in the reservoir 44 to flow. descending under the effect of gravity into the chamber 40, with the reciprocating movement of the piston 18 inwardly and outwardly relative to the piston chamber element 16.

  Fig. 9 illustrates the piston 18 in an extended position in which the sealing member 102 engages or is sufficiently close to the valve seat 104 to close the inlet port 43 and prevent circulation to the chamber 40.

  Figure 10 illustrates the relative position of the sealing member 102 and the valve seat 104 when the piston 18 is in a retracted position. The closure member 102 is moved inwardly enough so that the particulate matter 100 from the second reservoir 44 is free to descend under the effect of gravity into the chamber 40.

  The axial length of the closure member 102 and the relative size and position of the valve seat 104 may be appropriately selected to control the amount of particulate matter 100 that can flow into the chamber 40 at each stroke of the valve seat 104. piston, and the relative moment of the stroke at which particulate matter 100 can be dispensed. In any event, the particulate material 100 must be dispensed from the outlet port 53 at substantially the same time as the dispensing of the foamy intermediate 61 into the outlet passage.

  The openings 56 in the dispensing tube 50 are enlarged to facilitate gravity flow of the particulate material 100 through these openings. During each reciprocating stroke of the piston 18 inwardly and outwardly, the foamy intermediate 61 is dispensed into the outlet tube 62 at the same time as the particulate material 100 is dispensed from the orifice The foam intermediate 61 and the particulate material 100 dispensed are delivered through the outlet port 62 together on the hand of a person.

  The embodiment of Figure 9 has an air chamber 20, a foamy liquid chamber 30 and a chamber 40 which are all coaxial.

  Reference is made to Figures 11 and 12 which illustrate a fourth embodiment of a pump mechanism 10 according to the present invention. The pump mechanism 10 of FIG. 11 utilizes a foaming pump of a type similar to that of FIG. 2 and described in US Pat. No. 6,409,050 and includes a plug type dispenser similar to that shown in FIG. distributing the liquid particulate matter 100 from the second reservoir 44.

  In Figures 11 and 12, the same figures as in the previous figures are used to indicate similar elements.

  The piston 18 can slide in and out of the element forming a piston chamber 16. The piston 18 and the element forming a piston chamber 16 define between them an air chamber 20 from which the air is brought out via an air distribution passage 26 leading to a mixing chamber 60 above the porous member 59. The piston 18 and the chamber member 16 also define a chamber of sparkling liquid 30 therebetween in which a liquid Sparkling material 35 can enter from the first reservoir 14 via a frothy liquid inlet 33 and be directed to an intermediate chamber 64 and thence to the frothy liquid chamber 30 from which the foamy liquid is radially outwardly distributed. via the axial space 106 between an outer end of an inner cylindrical wall 110 of the piston chamber member 16 and a shoulder directed towards the interior of the piston 18 and from there, v The mixing chamber 60 in FIG. 11 takes the form of one or more slots extending axially on the outside of a central piston plug 114 secured within a bore. At the same time, during a retracting stroke, the air and the foamy liquid are forced into the mixing chamber 60, through the porous element 59, to form an intermediate product. foamable extruded through an inner outlet tube 122. The air can enter the air chamber 20 during a withdrawal of the piston 18 through the top through the outlet tube 122, the porous member 59 and the mixing chamber 60 .

  The piston chamber member 16 has an outer cylindrical wall 124 and an inner cylindrical wall 110 coaxial about a central axis 128, joined by an end wall 130 and adapted to coaxially slidably receive the piston body. 120 and the central piston cap 114 coaxial therewithin.

  A circular opening 138 is provided in the end wall 130 radially between the walls 110 and 124 as best seen in Fig. 12. The piston chamber member 16 comprises a tube member 134 which extends around an axis 136 parallel to the axis 128 inwards from the opening 132 to define the chamber 40 inside. The tube element 134 is open at its inlet orifice 43 communicating with the second reservoir 44 containing the dry liquid particulate matter 100. In the vicinity of its inlet port 43, the tube member 134 carries a radially inwardly extending annular valve seat 104.

  The annular piston body 120 carries a hollow delivery tube 50 which coaxially extends into the tube member 134 of the piston chamber member 16 and is axially slidable therein.

  The delivery tube 50 carries at its inner end a sealing member 102 which is adapted to cooperate with the valve seat 104.

  The delivery tube 50 carries sealing flanges 54 for sealing the inner side wall 58 of the tube member 134. The delivery tube 50 has a central internal distribution passage 46 therein with openings 56 through the delivery tube 50 to allow particulate matter 100 to flow from the chamber 40 to the internal delivery passage 46.

  The internal distribution passage 46 of the delivery tube 50 communicates with a dispensing passage 138 which extends through the annular piston body 120 into an annular outlet passage 142 defined annularly around the outlet tube 122 between the tube internal outlet 122 and an outer tube 144.

  The outer tube 144 and therefore the outlet passage 142 have a lower end 146 which is spaced upwardly from the lower end 148 of the inner outlet tube 122. The dry particulate material 100 which is dispensed under the effect of gravity drops under the effect of gravity from the lower end 146 of the outer tube 144 around the outside of the inner outlet tube 122 and beyond the lower end 148 of the inner outlet tube 122, where the material particulate 100 may, with the foamy intermediate product, be received on the hand of a user. The vertical space indicated at 150 between the outlet passage 142 for the particulate material 100 and the outlet port 148 for the foamy intermediate product helps to ensure that the liquid from the outlet port 148 does not enter. in the outlet passage 142 and does not obstruct the outlet passage 142 with the particulate material 100.

  The construction and operation of the plug valve mechanism in Figs. 11 and 12 are substantially the same as in Fig. 9 but this is shifted in Figs. 11 and 12 so as not to be concentric with the rest of the piston 18 .

  Reference is made to Figures 13 and 14 which illustrate a fifth embodiment of a pump mechanism 10 according to the present invention.

  The embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14 shows a general configuration and operation which are the same as that of Figs. 11 and 12, however, the pump carried coaxially in the piston 18 is adapted to dispense the fluid without making it foamy. and therefore, no air chamber is provided. Instead, the pump for pumping fluid from the first reservoir 14 in FIGS. 13 and 14 is of the type used in FIG. 1 for pumping the fluid from the second reservoir 44.

  In Figures 13 and 14, the annular piston body 120 is formed by two annular members 160 and 162 so that the dispensing passage 138 can be formed between them. The arrangement and operation of the plug dispensing system for dispensing particulate matter 100 from the second reservoir 44 is substantially the same as that of FIG. 11.

  A chamber indicated at 20 in FIG. 13 which could form an air chamber can be ventilated by the atmosphere by not providing sealing between the piston 18 and the inside of the outer wall 124 of the chamber member. piston 16.

  The embodiments of Figures 9, 11 and 13 are shown as dispensing particulate matter 100 from the second reservoir 44. This particulate material 100 may include any material that is capable of flowing under the effect of gravity as it does. is the case of dry powders, sand, dry granules and the like. Such particulates 100 include those solid particulates that may be desired to be added to fluids such as cleaning fluids and hand cleansers such as grains, pumice, silica and the like. However, other solid particulate materials may be used, such as solids which should not contact the fluids before use.

  Each of the embodiments is particularly suitable for producing a soap dispenser mechanism that is readily adapted for use with soap dispensers known as wall soap dispensers disclosed in Applicant's US Patent 5,373,970, published December 20, 1994. The structure comprising the combination of the first reservoir 14 and a second reservoir 44 can be arranged simply to have a shape and / or a dimension adapted to the direct replacement of an existing reservoir. The external mechanism of the pump assembly and particularly the piston adapted to be coupled to an actuating mechanism may be identical to those of the dispenser and therefore, a dispenser reservoir with a pump according to the present invention can be easily adapted to be used in existing dispenser housing by replacing known soap tanks with built-in pumps.

  Many modifications and variations will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is made to the following claims.

Claims (15)

  A method for dispensing foam, comprising: providing a first reservoir (14) with a first foamable fluid (35) characterized by: providing a second reservoir (44) of a second material liquid (45, 100); passing the first fluid (35) together with air through a porous member (59) to produce and extrude an intermediate product (61) containing foam to an outlet; simultaneously dispensing the second liquid material (45, 100) to the outlet, thereby producing a final product comprising the foam-containing intermediate and the liquid material.   The method of claim 1, further characterized in that the liquid material is a dry solid particulate material (100) selected from a fluid comprising a solid particulate material that does not pass through the porous member and a fluid having a viscosity sufficiently high not to pass through the porous element.   The method of claim 2, further characterized in that the solid particulate material (100) is selected from the group consisting of grains, pumice, scouring particles of synthetic plastic resin, wood powder, flour of sponge, cork flour and finely divided silica.   The method of claim 1, further characterized in that the liquid material is a second fluid (45) and the simultaneous dispensing step comprises simultaneously extruding the second fluid to the exit port.   The method of claim 4, further characterized in that the foam-containing intermediate product and the second fluid are coextruded in an outlet passage (62) to fuse into the outlet passage.   The method of any one of claims 1 to 5, further characterized by comprising mixing the foam-containing intermediate product and the second liquid material.   The method of claim 4, further characterized in that the foam-containing intermediate product and the second fluid are each extruded into extrudate streams in a parallel direction, one of the jets being annular around the other jets.   The method of claim 7, further characterized in that the jet comprising the foam-containing intermediate product (61) is annularly extruded around the other jet (48) comprising the second fluid.   The method of claim 7 or 8, further characterized in that both (1) the first fluid (35) and the air are pressurized to be passed through the porous member (59) and extruded as an intermediate product (61) containing foam, and (2) the second fluid (45) is simultaneously extruded by the movement of a single piston member (18) within a chamber member piston (16).   The method of any one of claims 7, 8 and 9, further characterized in that the first fluid (35) and the air are pressurized to be passed through the porous member (59) and extruded as an intermediate product (61) containing foam, and the second fluid (45) is simultaneously extruded by the movement of a single piston member (18) within a piston chamber member ( 16) defining therebetween an air chamber (20) having an air inlet port and an air outlet port, a first fluid chamber (30) having an inlet port (33) therebetween communicating with the first reservoir (14) and an outlet port, and a second fluid chamber (40) having an inlet port (43) in communication with the second reservoir (44), and wherein the piston element (18) is reciprocable in the piston chamber member (16) and when moving in a in the first direction, the air is drawn into the air chamber (20), the first fluid is drawn into the first fluid chamber (30) and the second fluid is drawn into the second fluid chamber (40) and moving in the opposite direction, the air is expelled from the air outlet port of the air chamber (20), the first fluid is expelled from the outlet of the first fluid chamber (30) and the second fluid is expelled from the outlet of the second fluid chamber (40).   The method of any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, further characterized in that the liquid material comprises a dry liquid solid particulate material (100), comprising: extruding the intermediate product (61) containing foam from a lower end of a vertical foam dispenser tube (122), dispensing the liquid material (100) from a solid material outlet (146) disposed around the dispenser tube (122) at a greater height at the lower end (148) of the foam dispenser tube (122).   The method of claim 11, further characterized in that the solids outlet port (146) is annularly disposed about the foam dispensing tube (122).   The method of claim 12, further characterized in that the first fluid (35) is extruded and the liquid material (100) is simultaneously dispensed by the movement of a single piston member (18) within a piston chamber member (16) defining therebetween a first fluid chamber (30) having an inlet port in communication with the first reservoir (14) and the liquid delivery pipe (122) as an orifice outlet and a solid material chamber (40) having an inlet port in communication with the second reservoir (44) and an outlet port in communication with the solid material outlet (146), and wherein piston member (18) is reciprocable in the piston chamber member (16) and when moved in a first direction, the first fluid (35) is drawn in the first fluid chamber (30) and the inlet to the chamber of solid material (40) is closed, and when moving in the opposite direction, the first fluid (35) is expelled from the liquid delivery tube (122) and the inlet into the solid material chamber (40) is open.   14. A dispensing method comprising: providing a first reservoir (14) with a first fluid (35), characterized by: providing a second reservoir with a solid liquid dry particulate (100) capable of flow under the effect of gravity, the distribution of the first fluid (35) downwards out of a lower end (148) of a vertical fluid dispensing tube (122), and the simultaneous distribution of the liquid material (100) downwardly from a solid material outlet (146) disposed around and adjacent the liquid delivery tube (122) at a height greater than the lower end (148) of the fluid delivery tube (122).   The method of claim 14, further characterized in that the first fluid (35) is extruded and the liquid material (100) is simultaneously dispensed by the movement of a single piston member (18) within a piston chamber member (16) defining therebetween a first fluid chamber (30) having an inlet port in communication with the first reservoir (14) and the liquid delivery pipe (122) as an orifice outlet and a solid material chamber (40) having an inlet port in communication with the second reservoir (44) and an outlet port in communication with the solid material outlet (146), and wherein piston member (18) is reciprocable in the piston chamber member (16) and when moved in a first direction, the first fluid (35) is drawn in the first fluid chamber (30) and the inlet to the chamber of solid material (40) is closed, and when moving in the opposite direction, the first fluid (35) is expelled from the liquid delivery tube (122) and the inlet into the solid material chamber (40) is open.